HDTV will grow significantly in the United States over the next five years, accounting for 70 percent of overall TV sales by the end of 2010, according to a new forecast from JupiterResearch.

That figure compares with HDTVs accounting for 21 percent of all television sales by the end of 2004.

The JupiterResearch report, “U.S. HDTV Forecast 2005 to 2010: Managing Consumer Perceptions to Gain Market Share," projects that 63 percent of U.S. TV households will have an HDTV by 2010.

According to JupiterResearch, increased availability of HD programming, increased availability of HDTVs at retail stores, and the impact of the FCC’s digital tuner mandate on manufacturers will contribute to the growing appeal of HD among consumers.

The FAA’s current rules and proposed ban on flight over people, requirement of visual line of sight and restriction on nighttime flying, effectively prohibit broadcasters from using UAS for newsgathering. ~ WMUR-TV General Manager Jeff Bartlett